After bagging two awards-Best MPV and Best of Small MPV-at the 2018 Otomotif Car of the Year, Mitsubishi Motors took the spotlight among the best of the best of Indonesia’s annual car recognition.
Organized by Otomotif, the leading Indonesian tabloid, the group awarded the new multipurpose vehicle Mitsubishi Xpander as the 2018 Car-of-the-Year.
“The Car of the Year is selected from among the winners in each category that have been evaluated from many aspects such as design, features, performance, handling, fuel consumption, price and the latest model. And our editorial judging panel takes into account sales, community engagement and value for money. The Mitsubishi Xpander is a worthy winner for 2018,” said Panji Maulana, Editor-in-Chief of Otomotif.
The Xpander, which was designed specifically for the needs of the fast-growing Indonesian auto market, ranked among the top 3 best-selling models in the small MPV segment.
In terms of space and comfort, this 7-seater vehicle has a lot to offer with plenty of space for luggage and comfortable ride for both driver and passengers.
The Xpander is produced at Mitsubishi Motors’ state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Bekasi Prefecture, West Java. The $540 million investment factory employs 3,000 workers and is capable of producing 160,000 vehicles a year.
The Bekasi plant is the manufacturing hub for Philippines and Thailand demands, reinforcing Mitsubishi Motors’ strong market positions in the ASEAN region.
“We are very grateful to have received this award from Otomotif, which is a recognition of the wonderful reception that Xpander has been given by the people of Indonesia. Many people had a hand in this success, including our friends and business partners at MMKSI and the Indonesian government. Years of careful research went into the design of the Xpander, a modern MPV that meets the needs of Indonesia’s hard-working families,” said Osamu Masuko, Chief Executive of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.
Here’s the highlight of the event:
The Xpander was the first all-new vehicle from Mitsubishi Motors since a strengthened management team at the Japanese automaker embarked on a new growth and recovery strategy. Under the company’s Drive for Growth plan, the company is investing more than $5 billion to improve its product line-up, building on its traditional strengths in four-wheel drive, sports utility vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.